Toy vehicle, launching apparatus therefor and methods of using the same
A toy vehicle is disclosed that is configured to be driven by a pull cord that is inserted through the axle of a drive wheel of the toy vehicle, such that the drive wheel of the toy vehicle is energized through movement of the driving pull cord in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the direction of intended travel of the toy vehicle. This configuration allows a user to launch multiple toy vehicles arranged in a side-by-side arrangement using a single pull cord, and moreover by pulling such single pull cord through a single pull stroke. This configuration also allows the simultaneous launching of multiple toy vehicles aligned in a single row when multiple pull cords are provided an engage a single actuator to withdraw all such pull cords in a single pulling stroke. Launchers for use with such a toy vehicle, and methods of using the same, are also disclosed.
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This application is based upon and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/818,980 entitled “Toy Vehicle, Launching Apparatus Therefor and Methods of Using the Same,” filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on May 3, 2013 by the inventor herein, and from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/886,222 entitled “Toy Vehicle, Launching Apparatus Therefor and Methods of Using the Same,” filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Oct. 3, 2013 by the inventor herein, the specifications of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to toy vehicles, and more particularly to a toy vehicle and launcher assembly configured to allow simultaneous launching of multiple toy vehicles, and methods of launching such toy vehicles.
BACKGROUNDToy vehicles have long provided children fun and exciting entertainment. Moreover, providing mechanisms to propel a toy vehicle adds to the enjoyment of playing with a toy vehicle, often allowing the toy vehicle to travel faster and farther than if simply pushed by the child playing with the toy.
Toy vehicles have previously been provided that utilize a pull cord, often including a rack gear, to energize a drive system that ultimately launches the toy vehicle. Toy vehicle launch assemblies of varying complexity have been provided that allow the user to manually operate such a pull cord, and thus manually control the amount of energy that is imparted to the toy vehicle through the launcher's drive drain, in turn allowing the user to have some effect on the speed at which the toy vehicle launches from the launcher. For instance, both U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,701,216 and 7,500,898 disclose hand-held launchers that launch a wheel, using a gear rack to rotate an output shaft on the launcher to which the wheel attaches. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,096 discloses a toy vehicle energizer and launcher having a pull cord that rotates an internal drive spool on the launcher, which in turn energizes a drive wheel of the toy vehicle through a clutch mechanism. Further, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0121820 discloses a toy propeller launcher having a stationary base that receives a rack gear to engage an internal drive train, which in turn rotates separate launch assemblies to aerially launch toy propellers from each of the launch assemblies.
While manual control, and particularly manual activation and launching of the toy vehicle may be more desirable than, for instance, trigger-spring actuated or motorized launchers (as such manual control creates a more challenging and exciting experience for the user), the above-described prior art devices have provided the user only the opportunity to engage a launcher for the toy vehicle, and not the toy vehicle themselves. Such direct engagement with the toy vehicles themselves can be more desirable to further add to the player's direct control of the action of the toy vehicle as it launches.
Other prior art configurations have been provided for launching such toy vehicles in which a pull cord, typically including a rack gear, directly engages the toy vehicle in a direction generally parallel to the intended path of the toy vehicle. While this configuration may allow more direct control by the user of the action of the toy vehicle as it is launched, it limits the user's ability to adequately position multiple toy vehicles for simultaneous launch, which may be particularly desirable when playing with such toy vehicles in a racing environment. More particularly, separate players must separately engage their pull cord with their respective toy vehicle, and if there is to be an aligned starting line, do their best to align their toy vehicles in a side-by-side position before launching and attempt to hold such position steady during the launching pull. Further, as positioning, holding, and launching of such vehicles in this type of racing configuration requires two hands, a user is limited to either finding a racing partner to control the second toy vehicle, or not being able to play with such toy vehicles in a play racing setting.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a toy vehicle having a configuration allowing manual launching by the user through direct engagement with the toy vehicle (as opposed to engagement through a separate launcher), but that allows multiple toy vehicles to be launched simultaneously by a single user, and that particularly allows multiple toy vehicles to be manually launched by a single user from an aligned starting position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with certain aspects of an embodiment of the invention, disclosed is a toy vehicle having a drive mechanism that allows a user to simultaneously launch multiple toy vehicles that are aligned next to one another and using a single pull cord actuator. A single pull cord may be inserted through the axle of a drive wheel of the toy vehicle, and may engage a gear mechanism to rotate the drive wheel as the pull cord is withdrawn from the axle. With this configuration, the drive wheel of the toy vehicle is energized through movement of the driving pull cord in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the direction of intended travel of the toy vehicle. This configuration not only provides an easy method by which a user may launch a single toy vehicle, but also provides a configuration that allows a user to launch multiple toy vehicles arranged in a side-by-side arrangement using a single pull cord, and moreover by pulling such single pull cord through a single pull stroke. This configuration also allows the simultaneous launching of multiple toy vehicles aligned in a single row when multiple pull cords are provided and engage a single actuator to withdraw all such pull cords in a single pulling stroke.
In accordance with further aspects of an embodiment of the invention, launchers are provided that make use of such configuration to add excitement to the use of such toy vehicles, and methods of using such toy vehicles with such launchers are also provided.
The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
The following description is of a particular embodiment of the invention, set out to enable one to practice an implementation of the invention, and is not intended to limit the preferred embodiment, but to serve as a particular example thereof. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and specific embodiments disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other methods and systems for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent assemblies do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.
A drive wheel 20 is also provided and rotatably mounted on an axle (as described in greater detail below) and positioned between rear wheels 16 of vehicle housing 12. The outer portion of drive wheel 20 is preferably formed of a material that will easily grip an intended play surface, such as rubber, so as to propel toy vehicle 10 when it spins.
A cylindrical opening 18 extends through vehicle housing 12 and drive wheel 20. Cylindrical opening 18 is preferably aligned with the center of rear wheels 16 and drive wheel 20, and is sized to allow a pull cord 30 (shown in
Spiral pull cord 30 may include a handle 32 configured for easy gripping by a child. Handle 32 may take on any configuration as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, so long as it provides a gripping surface or opening allowing easy engagement by a child. In use, a child may hold handle 32 while inserting spiral pull cord 30 through opening 18 in toy vehicle 10, and likewise when quickly pulling pull cord 30 out from cylindrical opening 18 to spin drive wheel 20. Once pull cord 30 has been removed from toy vehicle 10, the child may quickly place toy vehicle 10 on a play surface to allow the toy vehicle to speed away under the power of spinning drive wheel 20. In one embodiment, the pull cord 30 is formed of molded plastic. In alternative embodiments, the pull cord 30 is formed of metal or other materials.
As shown in the exploded view of
Tabs 17 may be provided on chassis 12b, such as at the back portion of cassis 12b (e.g., on a rear surface of each of rear wheels 16), which tabs 17 may engage openings 19 on a back side of upper body portion 12a (see
The toy vehicle drive wheel 20 is positioned below upper body portion 12a and mounted within chassis portion 12b, and comprises axle 32, fly wheel 34, and rubber tire 40, all held within bushings 300. Optionally, tire 40 may have a diameter that is sufficiently large so that rear wheels 16 on chassis 12b do not come into contact with a flat play surface when toy vehicle 10 is positioned on such flat surface.
Bushings 300 are configured to closely fit within slots 31 on an interior portion of chassis 12b. For instance, slots 31 may be provided on the inner side of rear wheels 16. In an exemplary embodiment, each of slots 31 may be configured with three walls to hold a rectangular-shaped bushing 300 in place, and preferably have an open top allowing such bushing 300 to be slid downward into slot 31. Of course, bushing 300 and slot 31 configurations other than rectangular may likewise be used, so long as each bushing is fixedly held in chassis 12b after assembly and during operation of toy vehicle 10. Each bushing 300 also has an opening 33 extending there through, which opening 33 aligns with an opening 37 in each of rear wheels 16. Openings 33 in each bushing 300 are also configured to receive the hubs 35 of axle 32. Openings 33 may be sized so as hold axle 32 while minimizing play between the axle and the chassis portion 12b, while also minimizing the amount of friction created between the axle 32 and bushings 300 when axle 32 is spinning. For example, openings 33 in bushings 300 may be configured as triangular openings, and dimensioned to receive circular hub 35 of axle 32 while minimizing the points of contact between bushing opening 33 and hub 35. Other shapes and configurations for such openings 33 in bushings 300 will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.
Axle 32 has a cylindrical channel 38 extending there through, which cylindrical channel 38 forms a portion of opening 18 that extends through the entire vehicle housing 12. Detents 22 are positioned on the interior of axle 32 so that the detents 22 extend into cylindrical channel 38.
Axle 32 is mounted within an open interior 39 of flywheel 34. Flywheel 34 is of standard configuration, and provides a mass to store the rotational energy imparted to axle 32 when pull cord 30 engages detents 22 so as to cause axle 32 to spin. Axle 32 may be press-fit into open interior 39 of flywheel 34, but may also be joined to fly wheel 34 using adhesives, pins, or other fixation devices and/or methods as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Likewise, rubber tire 40 is sized to slip over and to be frictionally held to flywheel 34, such that when flywheel 34 spins, rubber tire 40 likewise spins to drive toy vehicle 10 along its path on a play surface.
In use, a user may grip the handle 32 of spiral pull cord 30 and feed spiral pull cord 30 through cylindrical channel 18 until the handle 32 comes in contact with toy vehicle 10. When ready to launch the vehicle, the user may then quickly pull spiral pull cord 30 out of cylindrical channel 18 (thus pulling spiral pull cord 30 in a direction perpendicular to the intended travel path of toy vehicle 10). As spiral pull cord 30 is withdrawn from cylindrical channel 18, detents 22 within cylindrical channel 38 in axle 32 are pushed along the spiral windings on pull cord 30, causing detents 22 to spin about pull cord 30 as it is withdrawn. This, in turn, imparts rotary motion to axle 32, fly wheel 34, and rubber tire 40, with flywheel 34 storing such rotational energy which may then immediately be spent to propel the toy vehicle along its travel path when placed on the play surface.
Optionally, axle 32 may comprise a multi-part drive mechanism that allows multiple pull strokes of spiral pull cord 30 to repeatedly energize drive wheel 20 without removing pull cord 30 from drive wheel 20. By allowing such multiple, driving pull strokes of spiral pull cord 30 without removing pull cord 30 from drive wheel 20, drive wheel 20 may achieve a higher rotational speed before it is released by the user, and will thus cause toy vehicle 10 to be launched at a higher speed than if launched with only a single driving pull stroke.
With particular reference to
A clutch plate 328 is positioned against interior face 327 of bearing plate 324 on the inside of polygonal shaft 326. Clutch plate 328 extends only partially across interior face 327, such that a gap 329 exists between an end of clutch plate 328 and the interior wall of polygonal shaft 326. Such gap 329 will engage a portion of clutch 340 as described further below.
A bearing ring 330 is positioned within the open end of polygonal shaft 326. Bearing ring 330 includes a hollow cylinder 331 that, like hollow cylinder 322 of inner bushing 320, is sized to fit within opening 35 of bushing 300 while allowing rotation of axle 32 within bearing 300. Bearing ring 330 also includes a bearing plate 333 that closes the open end of polygonal shaft 326 when fully assembled. In such fully assembled form, each of bearing plates 324 and 333 will be positioned adjacent a face of flywheel 34, with polygonal shaft 326 extending through opening 39 in flywheel 34.
Clutch 340 is positioned within polygonal shaft 326 and is configured to move linearly back and forth through polygonal shaft 326 when engaged by spiral pull cord 30. Clutch 340 comprises a disk portion 342 having a central opening extending therethrough, and a hub 344 extending outward from one side of disk portion 342 and toward clutch plate 328. The central opening through disk portion 342 may include detents 22 (
When fully assembled, openings in each of hollow cylinder 322, bearing plate 324, clutch plate 328, clutch 340, bearing plate 333 and hollow cylinder 331 are axially aligned, such that spiral pull cord 30 may be inserted through the entire axle assembly 32.
In use, and with particular reference to
Thereafter, if the user wishes to further energize flywheel 34, prior to fully withdrawing spiral pull cord 30 from the drive wheel assembly 20, the user may push spiral pull cord 30 back into axle 32, thus again pushing clutch 340 back toward bearing ring 330 until pull cord 30 completes its insertion stroke. Thereafter, pull cord 30 may again be pulled through its driving pull stroke, causing clutch 340 to re-engage clutch plate 328 and further energize flywheel 34. Once the flywheel is energized to the user's desired level, spiral pull cord 30 may be fully withdrawn from drive wheel 20, and the toy vehicle 10 may be released to race along the play surface.
By configuring toy vehicle 10 so that the drive wheel 20 may be engaged and energized by moving a pull cord in the same direction as the axle of the drive wheel, and thus in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the intended travel path of the toy vehicle 10, a number of options are available for launching the vehicle that add to the excitement experienced by a child engaged in play with the toy vehicle.
For example, one manner of launching toy vehicle 10 that is made available by engaging the drive wheel 20 in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the intended travel path of the toy vehicle 10 is the simultaneous, side-by-side engagement of multiple toy vehicles with a single pull cord configured as above, thus providing a nearly simultaneous launching of multiple toy vehicles that have been positioned side-by-side. For example, and with reference to
Housing 60 is dimensioned so that when toy vehicles 10 are positioned within vehicle bays 68 (preferably so that the back edge of each toy vehicle 10 is in contact with back wall 66 of housing 60), cylindrical openings 18 extending through each toy vehicle 10 all align with one another and with openings 70 extending through each partition 68. As a result of this configuration, a single pull cord 30 may be fed through a first partition 68, then a first toy vehicle 10, then a second partition 68, then a second toy vehicle 10, and so on for all toy vehicles arranged in housing 60. After pull cord 30 has been so positioned so as to engage the plurality of toy vehicles 10 positioned in housing 60, a single pull of pull cord 30 will result in the simultaneous energizing of the drive wheels 20 of each of the toy vehicles 10 that have been engaged by the pull cord 30. As the pull cord 30 is withdrawn from each of the toy vehicles 10, they will then launch away from housing 60. Moreover, as the pull of pull cord 30 is carried out quickly, the toy vehicles 10 will launch from housing 60 nearly simultaneously.
As shown in
Similarly, and as shown in
Further,
As shown in
As yet another alternative to launching a plurality of toy vehicles 10 configured as above, a multi-car launcher may be provided that simultaneously launches toy vehicles 10 that are arranged in a line, one behind another. With reference to
Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that base 102 is not necessary for allowing the simultaneous, multi-car launching described here, and that housing 104 might instead be positioned directly on a play surface so that the drive wheels 20 of the toy vehicles immediately come in contact with the play surface when released from their respective pull cords 30.
In some embodiments, base 102 may also include a pivoting edge member 107 that may be manually pivoted from an upright position, as shown in
Bearing 202 is also affixed to and positioned centrally within drive gear 210, which has at least a top gear 212, and optionally a bottom gear 214. Drive gear 210 is rotatably mounted within housing 104, and as it is affixed to bearing 202, it will turn with bearing 202 as drive shaft 200 is depressed into bearing 202.
Top gear 212 of drive gear 210 engages pulley gear 220 (either through direct engagement or through one or more intermediate gears as appropriate for a particularly desired gear ratio), which pulley gear 220 is affixed to pulley 222. If drive gear 210 is equipped with a bottom gear 214, then such bottom gear 214 may engage a second pulley gear (not shown) positioned on the bottom of pulley 222. In either case, pulley 222 is likewise rotatably mounted within housing 104. Pulley 222 also has a plurality of circumferential slots 224 that open along the outer circumference of the sidewall of pulley 222. Slots 224 are of sufficient width to receive a pull cord 30 therein, and an end of each pull cord 30 is fixedly attached within a slot 224 of pulley 222. Thus, when pulley 222 rotates about its axle 226 in a first direction, it will simultaneously pull all of pull cords 30 into slots 224 on pulley 222, likewise causing the extended portions of each pull cord 30 (i.e., the portion extending outside of housing 104 and engaging toy vehicles 10) to retract inward toward the interior of housing 104. Similarly, when pulley 222 rotates about its axle 226 in the opposite direction, it will push pull cords 30 outward from slots 224 on pulley 222, likewise causing them to extend outward from housing 104.
Drive gear 210 and pulley 222 may be rotatably mounted within a frame member 230, which frame member may attach to base 102, with housing 104 surrounding frame member 230 when launcher 100 is fully assembled. Alternatively, frame member 230 need not be provided, and drive gear 210 and pulley 222 may instead be directly and rotatably mounted to base 102. Guide members 228 may be provided along the sidewalls of frame member 230 (or alternatively directly to housing 104 if no frame member 230 is provided), each of which has an open interior allowing a single pull cord 30 to extend and slide there through, but each of which guide one of such pull cords 30 as it retracts into and extends outward from housing 104.
As shown in
Handle 106 is configured to receive the top of drive shaft 200, such as by clips on drive shaft 200 that may press into openings on the underside of handle 106. An opening 110 is provided in the top side of housing 104 through which drive shaft 200 passes. A spring 244 may be provided and radially positioned between drive gear support shaft 242 and drive shaft 200, biasing drive shaft 200 (and thus handle 106) to an extended position, and being compressed when a user depresses handle 106, thus providing an automatic return of handle 106 to a ready position after each launch.
Similarly, pulley 222 may be rotatably mounted to base 102 at a pulley support post 250, which pulley support post 250 is rigidly attached to base 102. As discussed above, pulley 222 may thus rotate as drive shaft 200 causes drive gear 210 to rotate, in turn causing pull cords 30 that are anchored at one end to pulley 222 to either retract into housing 104 (as handle 106 is pushed downward), or to extend from housing 104 (as handle 106 returns to its original, ready position).
Thus, in operation, a user may first align a series of toy vehicles 10 (configured as discussed above) in a column in a single start lane 105, with a single pull cord 30 extending through each toy vehicle 10. When ready to launch the toy vehicles 10 to initiate a race, a user will depress handle 106 down into housing 104. As handle 106 is depressed into housing 104, drive shaft 200 causes drive gear 210 to rotate, in turn causing pulley 222 to rotate. As pulley 222 rotates, pull cords 30 (which are attached to pulley 222) are quickly retracted into housing 104 as they are wound around pulley 222, thus energizing the drive wheels 20 of each of toy vehicles 10. Once the pull cords 30 have been retracted enough to be fully removed from toy vehicles 10, toy vehicles 10 race off of launcher under the power of each of their drive wheels 20. As the user then releases handle 106, spring 244 returns handle 106 to its original position, lifting drive shaft 200 and causing drive gear to rotate in the opposite direction, in turn causing pulley 222 to rotate in the opposite direction to extend pull cords 30 outward from housing 104.
As shown in the perspective view
More particularly, piston 44 has a first head section 50, a second head section 52, and a rod section 54 extending between head section 50 and head section 52. Second head section 52 is sized so that it forms a stop against the back wall 43 of cylinder 42, thus preventing movement of piston 44 past the extended position shown in
As shown in
Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It should be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth herein.
Claims
1. A toy vehicle launching system comprising:
- a toy vehicle, said toy vehicle further comprising a housing; and a drive wheel rotatably mounted to said housing, said drive wheel having a channel extending through an axle of said drive wheel, and said axle comprising a multi-part drive mechanism comprising an inner bushing and a clutch, wherein said clutch moves in a direction parallel to and rotates about a central axis within said inner bushing; wherein said inner bushing further comprises a clutch plate configured to engage a hub on said clutch so as to translate rotation of said clutch into rotation of said inner bushing; and a cord comprising an elongate gear configured to drivingly engage said clutch;
- wherein said clutch moves in a first direction parallel to the axle to engage the hub against the clutch plate, translate rotation of the clutch into rotation of the inner bushing, and energize said drive wheel about said axle, when said cord is moved through said drive wheel in the first direction; and
- wherein said clutch moves in a second direction parallel to the axle to disengage the clutch plate and to spin freely, and does not energize said drive wheel about said axle, when the cord is moved through said drive wheel in the second direction.
2. The toy vehicle launching system of claim 1, wherein said elongate gear further comprises an elongate shaft of spiral windings wound about a central axis.
3. The toy vehicle launching system of claim 2, wherein said clutch further comprises a disk portion having a central opening extending therethrough and wherein said hub extends outward from one side of said disk portion and toward said clutch plate, said central opening comprising one or more detents configured to ride between said windings of said elongate gear.
4. The toy vehicle launching system of claim 3, wherein the central opening comprises an engagement device for engaging threads of the cord that will cause the clutch to rotate and wherein the hub is shaped to fit within the gap between the clutch plate and the interior of the shaft.
5. The toy vehicle launching system of claim 1, said drive wheel further comprising a cylindrical flywheel; and a tire encircling said flywheel; wherein said axle is mounted within a central portion of said flywheel.
6. The toy vehicle launching system of claim 1, further comprising: a multi-vehicle launcher comprising a base and a partition extending upward from said base and defining at least two starting lanes in said base, each of said starting lanes being sized to receive the toy vehicle, wherein the partition has a cord receiving opening extending there through.
7. The toy vehicle launching system of claim 6, wherein said launcher is configured so as to align said cord receiving opening in said partition with said channel in said toy vehicle when said toy vehicle is positioned in said launcher.
8. The toy vehicle launching system of claim 7, further comprising a second partition wherein the partition and second partition form at least three toy vehicle receiving bays in said launcher.
9. The toy vehicle launching system of claim 1, wherein the cord may be repeatedly moved through said drive wheel in said first and second directions to energize said drive wheel to a desired level before the cord is fully withdrawn.
10. The toy vehicle launching system of claim 1, wherein said multi-part drive mechanism further comprises a bearing ring.
11. The toy vehicle launching system of claim 10, wherein the clutch moves to contact said bearing ring when the cord is moved through said drive wheel in the second direction.
12. The toy vehicle launching system of claim 1, wherein the inner bushing comprises a bearing plate and a shaft extending from the bearing plate, and wherein the shaft has a shape configured to mate with an opening extending through the drive wheel and wherein the clutch moves back and forth within the shaft.
13. The toy vehicle launching system of claim 12, wherein the shaft has a polygonal shape and the opening extending through the drive wheel has a corresponding polygonal shape.
14. A method of launching a toy vehicle, comprising:
- providing at least one toy vehicle, said toy vehicle further comprising: a housing; and a drive wheel rotatably mounted to said housing, said drive wheel having a channel extending through an axle of said drive wheel, and said axle comprising a multi-part drive mechanism comprising an inner bushing and a clutch, wherein said clutch moves in a direction parallel to and rotates about a central axis of said axle within said inner bushing; wherein said inner bushing further comprises a clutch plate configured to engage a hub on said clutch so as to translate rotation of said clutch into rotation of said inner bushing;
- providing a cord comprising an elongate gear configured to drivingly engage said clutch; and
- inserting said cord through said channel of said drive wheel of said toy vehicle;
- wherein moving said cord through said channel of said drive wheel of said toy vehicle in a first direction moves the clutch in the first direction to engage the hub against the clutch plate, which translates rotation of the clutch into rotation of the inner bushing and energizes and rotates said drive wheel about said axle; and
- wherein moving said cord through said channel of said drive wheel of said toy vehicle in a second direction moves the clutch in the second direction to disengage the clutch plate so that the clutch spins freely and does not energize said drive wheel about said axle.
15. The method of launching a toy vehicle of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing a multi-vehicle launcher comprising a base and a partition extending upward from said base and defining at least two starting lanes on said base, each of said starting lanes being sized to receive the toy vehicle, wherein the partition has a cord receiving opening extending there through.
16. The method of launching a toy vehicle of claim 15, wherein said launcher is configured so as to align said cord receiving opening in said partition with said channel in said toy vehicle when said toy vehicle is positioned in said launcher.
17. The method of launching a toy vehicle of claim 16, further comprising a second partition wherein said partition and said second partition form at least three toy vehicles receiving bays in said launcher.
18. The method of launching a toy vehicle of claim 16, further comprising the step of placing said cord through said cord receiving opening and through said channel in a plurality of said toy vehicles positioned in said launcher.
19. The method of launching a toy vehicle of claim 18, further comprising the step of moving said cord through said channel in said plurality of said toy vehicles in a single stroke to launch all of said toy vehicles.
20. The method of launching a toy vehicle of claim 14, wherein the cord may be repeatedly moved through said drive wheel in said first and second directions to energize said drive wheel to a desired level before the cord is fully withdrawn.
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Type: Grant
Filed: May 1, 2014
Date of Patent: Jul 18, 2017
Patent Publication Number: 20140329436
Assignee: Mattel, Inc. (El Segundo, CA)
Inventor: Berrigan August Romig Lennon (Los Angeles, CA)
Primary Examiner: Melba Bumgarner
Assistant Examiner: Joseph B Baldori
Application Number: 14/267,295
International Classification: A63H 29/00 (20060101); A63H 17/00 (20060101);